Erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes in multiple sclerosis and the effect of hyperbaric oxygen.

The activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, were not significantly different from normal whereas that of superoxide dismutase was decreased (P less than 0.05) in erythrocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis. Assay of the lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde, after incubation of erythrocytes with 10 mM H2O2 under carefully controlled conditions (peroxide stress test) demonstrated that MS erythrocytes are significantly (P less than 0.001) less susceptible to H2O2-induced lipid peroxidation in vitro. This finding suggests that the level of an endogenous antioxidant, possibly vitamin E, may be elevated in MS red cells. After treatment with hyperbaric O2, the activity of MS erythrocyte catalase is significantly (P less than 0.01) elevated by 2-6-fold.